Device for holding chalk or other material.



No. 703,478. Patented .luly l, I902.

F. A. G. BUTZ.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING CHALK OR OTHER MATERIAL.

(Applicatibzi filed needs, 1900.)

(No Model.)

itnesses. Inventor.

"Q Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. O. RUTZ, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING CHALK OR OTHER MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,478, dated July 1, 1902.

1 Application filed December 5, 1900. Serial No- 38,838. (No model.)

of New York, have invented certain new and;

useful Improvements in Devices for Holding Chalk or other Material; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device for holding blocks of billiard-chalk or similar consumable material, whereby the latter may be used more economically than'at present and the chalk also secured in the holder and its removal therefrom until consumed or used prevented.

To these and other ends my invention consists of certain improvements of construction and combination of parts, all as willbe hereinafter fully described,and the novel features pointed out in-the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a cross-sectional view through the holder; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view.

Similar reference-numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

In illustrating my device I show it applied to a block of chalk 1 circular in cross-section but it will be understood that it is equally applicable for holding blocks formed in cubes or of any particular shape by providinga protecting band or ring"2,adapted"to engage over the exterior of the chalk and having upon its opposite sides apertures adapted to register with the opposite ends of an aperture 3, formed by passing a drill-through the body of the chalk.

The holder consists of a frame or support composed,preferably, of-spring-wire bent into the form shown, having an eye or loop 4, from which the side portions 5 diverge slightly, being provided with the inwardly extending arms 6, adapted to pass through the apertures in the band or encircling part 2 and also enter the aperture 3 in the chalk, and to prevent the removal of the chalk from the holder I provide means for locking the arms 6, which shall become accessible only when the chalk is worn away, and this object I accomplish by beveling the ends of the arms, as' shown M7, and providing upon the proximate and opposing faces of the portions thus formed hooks or latches 8. When the arms 6 are inserted through the band and in the aperture 3 in ;the chalk, they may be pressed together, gcausing their beveled faces to slide past each other, when the opposing projecting portions or hooks 8 will engage each other and pre vent the separation of the arms.

It will be understood that the holding-frame can be applied to the block of chalk without employing a band or covering therefor; but as the aperture 3 is arranged centrally therein, so that either end of the block may be used, the latter is free to revolve on the'arms 6, and owing to the comparatively soft nature of the chalk the aperture will soon become enlarged from the almost constant use to which it is subjected, so that the engaging ends of the arms might be released by moving them sidewise until the hooks 8 become disengaged. By employing the band or ring 2, having the apertures through which the arms on the holder project, I am enabled to form bearings for the arms, so that it is impossible to remove the holder before the chalk is worn out.

Holders such as I have described may be used injconnection with any of the various devices usually employed to retain the chalk and operating either above or beneath the table, and consisting of few parts they are simple and inexpensive in construction. The devices are also-equally applicable for holding other material than chalk and which is worn or consumed or depleted in use and requires replenishing from time to time, and this I regard as material similar to chalk within the meaningofmy claims, I

It is of course desirable that the engaging projections on the armsbe not larger than the arms themselves in order that the passage or aperture in the chalk may be small and the material almost entirely consumed before it is capable of removal, and it is further desirable that the relations existing between the size and location of the arms or portions 6 and the passage or aperture in the material held be such that the locking projections cannot be disengaged by turning twisting, or other manipulation of the parts.

I claim as my invention 1. A holder for chalk or similar consumable material embodying a support having the spring-arms adapted to extend in opposite directions into the material to be held, the proximate ends of said arms having the opposed inclined faces and the shoulders in rear thereof, whereby they will become automatically interlocked when brought together, said arms being incapable of detachment by a relative longitudinal movement.

2. In a holder for chalk or similar material, the combination with the shell or ring 2 having apertures upon its opposite sides, of a support having the oppositely-extending arms 6 provided with beveled faces 7 upon their proximate ends, and interlocking projections 8.

3. A holder for chalk or similar consumable material embodyinga band or shell encircling the positively-engaging interlocking devices on their proximate ends automatically and positively engaged by a longitudinal movement toward each other to prevent their withdrawal.

4. A holder for chalk or similar consumable material embodying a band or shell encircling the material to be held having the apertures and the loop having the inwardly-extending arms passing loosely through the apertures in the band and the interlocking projections on their ends adapted to automatically interlock within the material when thrust inwardly from opposite sides and prevent the withdrawal of the arms.

FRANK A. C. RUTZ.

W'itnesses:

G. WILLARD RICH, WALTER B. PAYNE. 

